Camera module integrated liquid display device and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A liquid-crystal display (LCD) device includes: an array substrate on which a sub-pixel is disposed; a color filter substrate on which a color filter corresponding to the sub-pixel is disposed; and a liquid-crystal layer between the array substrate and the color filter substrate. The array substrate comprises a lens hole, the color filter substrate comprises a lens hole guide, and a diameter of the lens hole is smaller than an inner diameter of the lens hole guide.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No.10-2015-0187173 filed on Dec. 28, 2015, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a liquid-crystal display (LCD), andmore particularly, to a liquid-crystal display device including a lenshole for a camera module and a method of fabricating the same.

Description of the Related Art

An LCD device is a transmissive display device and includes aliquid-crystal panel and a backlight unit. The liquid-crystal panelincludes an array substrate for controlling a liquid-crystal layer, apolarization plate disposed on a surface of the array substrate, a colorfilter substrate facing the array substrate, a polarization platedisposed on a surface of the color filter substrate, and theliquid-crystal layer disposed between the array substrate and the colorfilter substrate. The liquid-crystal panel controls the liquid-crystallayer to thereby adjust transmittance of each of sub-pixels of theliquid-crystal panel.

The backlight unit includes optical sheets, a light guide plate, a lightsource unit, a reflective plate, and a guide panel. The optical sheetsare disposed between the liquid-crystal panel and the light guide plate.For example, the optical sheets may include a prism film and/or adiffusion film. The light source is disposed on the side surface of thelight guide plate, such that light is diffused through the light guideplate. The reflective plate is disposed on the bottom surface of thelight guide plate to reflect light leaking toward the reflective plate.The guide panel supports the optical sheets, the light guide plate, thelight source and the reflective plate, etc., to allow the liquid-crystalpanel to be stably mounted thereon.

SUMMARY

The inventors of the application have studied and developed an LCDdevice into which a camera module (or portion thereof), a user-pressablebutton, etc. can be inserted.

The inventors of the application have devised an LCD device with minimalthickness and having a lens hole in an array substrate of the LCDdevice, into which a lens unit of a camera module or some otherfunctional element can be inserted. Specifically, the lens hole isformed in the array substrate with a drill or similar equipment.

However, the present inventors recognized many problems caused duringthe process of forming such hole. For example, the hole itself orportions of the substrate may be damaged during the drilling process.

Further, after certain elements on a surface of the array substrate areformed, the desired hole may need to be formed at a location havingseveral transparent material layers respectively having differentrefractive indexes. Accordingly, there may be an error in measuring theprecise depth or thickness at the location where the hole is to beformed, such that the substrate may be damaged when the lens hole isformed with the drill or similar equipment based on inaccurate thicknessmeasurements. The thinness of the substrate, which may or may not havecertain layers thereon, requires very precise hole drilling. Doing soneeds to be based upon accurate substrate thickness measurements, inorder to prevent inaccurate drilling (i.e. over-drilling orunder-drilling) and to minimize roughness or burrs at the inner surfaceof the hole.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a camera moduleintegrated liquid crystal display device and manufacturing methodthereof that substantially obviate one or more of the problems due tolimitations and disadvantages as described above.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an LCD device withminimal thickness to receive a camera module inserted thereinto whilesuppressing damages to the substrate that may occur during thefabricating process, and a method of fabricating the same.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description that follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages will be realized and attained by theexemplary structures and methods particularly pointed out in the writtendescription, and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with theinventive concepts as embodied and broadly described, a liquid-crystaldisplay (LCD) device comprises an array substrate on which a sub-pixelis disposed; a color filter substrate on which a color filtercorresponding to the sub-pixel is disposed; and a liquid-crystal layerbetween the array substrate and the color filter substrate. The arraysubstrate comprises a lens hole, the color filter substrate comprises alens hole guide, and a diameter of the lens hole is smaller than aninner diameter of the lens hole guide.

In another aspect, a method of fabricating a liquid-crystal display(LCD) device comprises measuring a thickness of an array substrate witha confocal sensor by using a measurement pattern on the array substrate;forming a groove in a position where a lens hole is to be formed to adepth determined based on the thickness of the array substrate measuredwith the confocal sensor; attaching a glass core to a region where thegroove is formed by applying adhesion with a taping equipment, and thenseparating the glass core from the array substrate with the tapingequipment to thereby form the lens hole; and inserting a camera moduleinto the array substrate through the lens hole.

Particulars in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described in the detail description with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thethickness of an LCD device can be reduced even if a camera module isinserted thereinto byway of forming a lens hole in the array substrateto insert the camera module into the lens hole.

In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a lens part is inserted into the lens hole and the lens holeguide, such that the camera module can capture images through a colorfilter substrate.

Further, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,a lens hole guide is formed around the lens hole, such that damage tothe array substrate can be suppressed by the lens hole guide during theprocess of forming the lens hole in the array substrate.

Moreover, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, defects during the process of forming the lens hole can bereduced by a measurement pattern.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an LCD device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an LCD device and a cameramodule according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A and a camer

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views for illustrating a method forforming a lens hole of an LCD device according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

The figures, dimensions, ratios, angles, the numbers of elements givenin the drawings are merely illustrative and are not limiting. Likereference numerals denote like elements throughout the descriptions.Further, in describing the present disclosure, descriptions onwell-known technologies may be omitted in order not to unnecessarilyobscure the gist of the present disclosure. It is to be noticed that theterms “comprising,” “having,” “including” and so on, used in thedescription and claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted tothe means listed thereafter unless specifically stated otherwise. Wherean indefinite or definite article is used when referring to a singularnoun, e.g. “a,” “an,” “the,” this includes a plural of that noun unlessspecifically stated otherwise.

In describing elements, they are interpreted as including error marginseven without explicit statements.

In describing positional relationship, such as “an element A on anelement B,” “an element A above an element B,” “an element A below anelement B,” and “an element A next to an element B,” another element Cmay be disposed between the elements A and B unless the term “directly”or “immediately” is explicitly used.

As used herein, a phrase “an element A on an element B” refers to thatthe element A may be disposed directly on the element B and/or theelement A may be disposed indirectly on the element B via anotherelement C.

The terms first, second and the like in the descriptions and in theclaims are used for distinguishing between similar elements and notnecessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. Thesesterms are used to merely distinguish one element from another.Accordingly, as used herein, a first element may be a second elementwithin the technical idea of the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals denote like elements throughout thedescriptions. The drawings are not to scale and the relative dimensionsof various elements in the drawings are depicted schematically and notnecessarily to scale.

Features of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure maybe combined partially or totally. As will be clearly appreciated bythose skilled in the art, technically various interactions andoperations are possible. Various exemplary embodiments can be practicedindividually or in combination.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an LCD device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 1, an LCD device 100 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure may include a pixel area AA inwhich a plurality of pixels is disposed, and a peripheral area PAsurrounding the pixel area AA. In the peripheral area PA, a pad unit PADis disposed such that a variety of driver units are attached thereon.For example, a gate driver or a data driver may be attached thereto. Inaddition, a camera module 140 is inserted in the periphery area PA.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an LCD device and a cameramodule according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 2, the LCD device 100 according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure includes an array substrate 110, alens hole 150 formed in the array substrate 110, a measurement pattern175 disposed around the lens hole 150, a lens hole guide 155 in linewith the lens hole 150, an overcoat layer 135 disposed above the lenshole guide 155, a black matrix 130 disposed on the overcoat layer 135and including an aperture 160 in line with the lens hole 150, a colorfilter substrate 120 disposed on the black matrix 130, and a secondpolarization plate 125 disposed on the color filter substrate 120 andhaving a transparent portion 165.

The camera module 140 can include a lens part 140 a and a sensor part140 b. The lens 140 a (or a portion thereof) is inserted into the lenshole 150.

The lens part 140 a can include a lens and a guide for supporting thelens. The lens part 140 a may have a cylindrical shape. However, this ismerely illustrative.

The sensor part 140 a can include an image sensor for converting animage having passed the lens part 140 a into an electric signal, and acircuit board on which the image sensor is disposed. However, this ismerely illustrative.

The camera module 140 (or a portion thereof) is inserted into the lenshole 150 on the array substrate 110. The LCD device 100 has an advantagein that the overall thickness or space occupied by the camera module 140can be reduced by inserting the camera module 140 into the lens hole150.

The lens part 140 a is inserted into the lens hole 150 and the lens holeguide 155. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the camera module140 can capture images via the aperture 160.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 4, the LCD device 100 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes the arraysubstrate 110 including the lens hole 150 and the color filter substrate120 including the aperture 160. The camera module 140 is inserted intothe lens hole 150 of the LCD device 100. A first polarization plate 105may be disposed on the bottom surface of the array substrate 110 and maypolarize light supplied from the light source unit.

A liquid-crystal layer 115 is disposed between the array substrate 110and the color filter substrate 120. Liquid-crystal molecules in theliquid-crystal layer 115 are tilted by signals applied from pixelelectrodes and common electrodes of a sub-pixel. As the liquid-crystalmolecules are tilted, transmittance of each of the sub-pixels of the LCDdevice 100 is adjusted.

A sealant 117 surrounds the outer periphery of the liquid-crystal layer115 disposed between the array substrate 110. and the color filtersubstrate 120. Accordingly, the liquid-crystal layer 115 is sealed bythe sealent 117.

The second polarization plate 125 may be disposed on the top surface ofthe color filter substrate 120 and may absorb polarized light dependingon a tilt angle of the polarization axis of the light polarized by theliquid-crystal layer 115.

The LCD device 100 may include a pixel area AA and a peripheral area PA.

A sub-pixel for driving the liquid-crystal layer 115 is disposed on thearray substrate 110 in the pixel area AA. The sub-pixel may include: apixel electrode; a common electrode corresponding to the pixelelectrode; a data line configured to apply image signals to the pixelelectrode; a gate line configured to apply a turn-on signal to the pixelelectrode; a switching element configured to apply image signals to thepixel electrode by receiving the signal applied from the gate line andthe data line; insulation films for insulating elements from oneanother; and an alignment layer disposed on the liquid-crystal layer 115to align liquid-crystal molecules in the liquid-crystal layer 115. It isto be noted that the LCD device 100 according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure are not limited by the elements ofthe pixel area AA. A color filter 122 and the black matrix 130 aredisposed on the color filter substrate 120 in the pixel area AA. Thecolor filter 122 may include red, green and blue color filters. Theblack matrix separates the color filters 122 from one another. Theovercoat layer 135 covers the color filter 122 and the black matrix 130to reduce or planarize the step difference created by the color filter122 and the black matrix 130. An alignment layer may be disposed betweenthe overcoat layer 135 and the liquid-crystal layer 115 to align theliquid-crystal molecules. It is to be noted that the LCD device 100according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure are notlimited by the elements of the pixel area AA.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the common electrode maybe formed on the color filter substrate. For example, for a verticalalignment (VA) or twisted nematic (TN) LCD device, the common electrodemay be formed on the color filter substrate.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the color filter may beincluded in a sub-pixel. For example, for a color-filter onthin-film-transistor (COT) LCD device, the color filter may be formed onthe array substrate.

A variety of drivers may be disposed on the array substrate 1110 in theperipheral area PA. The drives may include a gate driver configured toapply signals to the gate lines, and a data driver configured to applysignals to the data lines. The drivers may be attached to the pad unitPAD formed in the periphery area PA by a conductive adhesive or may beformed together with switching elements on the array substrate duringthe process of forming the same. It is to be noted that the LCD device100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure isnot limited by the drivers and the pad unit.

The lens hole 150 (or similar aperture or opening for accommodating someelement) may be formed in the array substrate 110 in the peripheral areaPA. More than one lens hole 150 may be formed. The camera module 140 maybe inserted into the lens hole 150.

The lens hole 150 may be formed by penetrating the array substrate 110with a drill or similar equipment. The drill may have a tip made ofdiamond. The tip of the drill may have a ring shape and may forma ringor hole in the array substrate 110 as it rotates at high speed. Thediameter L1 of the lens hole 150 may be determined depending on thediameter of the drill. For example, the diameter L1 of the lens hole 150may range from 4 mm to 6 mm. However, this is merely exemplary.

The camera module 140 may be inserted into the lens hole 150. The cameramodule 140 includes the lens part 140 a and the sensor part 140 b.

The lens part 140 a may include a lens and a mold for supporting thelens. The lens part 140 a has a viewing angle. The lens part 140 a mayhave a cylindrical shape. It is to be noted that the shape of the lenspart 140 a is not limited to the cylindrical shape but may havedifferent shapes depending on the shape of the mold.

The lens hole 150 may have a shape corresponding to the lens part 140 a.That is, the lens hole 150 conforms to the lens part 140 a so that thelens part 140 a or a portion thereof can be inserted into the lens hole150. For example, if the lens part 140 a has a circular shape, the lenshole 150 may also have the circular shape. The diameter L1 of the lenshole 150 may be equal to or larger than the diameter L2 of the outerside surface of the lens part 140 a of the camera module 140. With theabove-described configuration, the lens part 140 a may be inserted intothe lens hole 150. Accordingly, the thickness of the LCD device 100including the camera module 140 can be reduced.

The sensor part 140 b may include a circuit board and an image sensor.The sensor part 140 b converts images captured by the lens part 140 ainto electric signals. The image signals output from the sensor part 140b may be transmitted to another system via lines.

The measurement pattern 175 (or similar element configured to improvemeasurements) is disposed at, near, or around the lens hole 150 in thearray substrate 110. The measurement pattern 175 may have a shapecorresponding to the lens hole 150. In order to form the lens hole 150in the array substrate 110, it is necessary to measure the thickness ofthe array substrate 110 at a location where the hole is to be formed.Specifically, since there may be minute deviations in the overallthickness of the array substrate 110, it may be necessary to measure theprecise thickness where the hole is to be formed.

The thickness of the array substrate 110 may be measured with a confocalsensor or some other measuring equipment. In addition, it is alsonecessary to reduce measurement errors in measuring the thickness of thearray substrate 110 with a confocal sensor.

The measurement pattern 175 may be made of at least one of metalmaterials of the gate line or the data line on the array substrate 110.For example, the measurement pattern 175 may be made of at least one ofcopper, aluminum, molybdenum and titanium. With the above-describedconfiguration, no additional process is required for forming themeasurement pattern 175, and thus the measurement pattern 175 can beformed by modifying a shape of a mask. Accordingly, an additional maskmay not be required to form the measurement pattern 175.

The measurement pattern 175 is disposed on the top surface of the arraysubstrate 110. Accordingly, by measuring the distance from the bottomsurface of the array substrate 110 to the measurement pattern 175, thethickness of the array substrate 110 and how deep the array substrate110 has to be drilled for forming the lens hole 150 can be measured.

The measurement pattern 175 may have a shape corresponding to the lenshole 150. For example, the measurement pattern 175 may have a circularshape, such as a ring or a donut shape if the lens hole 150 has acircular shape. The measurement pattern 175 has a particular widthand/or diameter. For example, the width of the ring-like measurementpattern 175 may range from 200 to 700 It is to be noted that the LCDdevice 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure is not limited by the width and/or diameter of themeasurement pattern 175.

With the above-described configuration, the thickness of the arraysubstrate 110 can be measured more accurately using a confocal sensor bymeasuring the thickness of the array substrate 100 having themeasurement pattern 175 at the hole formation location.

For example, the thickness of the array substrate 110 may range from 150μm to 400 μm. More specifically, if the thickness of the array substrate110 is 250 μm, for example, the confocal sensor measures the distancefrom the bottom surface of the array substrate 110 to the measurementpattern 175 disposed on the top surface of the array substrate 110.Accordingly, the thickness of the array substrate 110 can be measuredmore accurately when compared to the thickness measurement performedwithout the measurement pattern 175.

The measurement pattern 175 is made of a metal material and thus isopaque. Accordingly, measurement error of the confocal sensor can bereduced by use of the measurement pattern 175. The shape of themeasurement pattern 175 is not limited to those described above but mayhave a variety of shapes as long as measurements with the confocalsensor can be more accurately performed.

Without the measurement pattern 175, there are only transparentmaterials at and around the lens hole location of the LCD device.Accordingly, it is difficult to accurately measure the thickness of thearray substrate with just the confocal sensor. Due to such inaccuratemeasurements, the hole formed in the array substrate 110 with the drillmay be too shallow. As a result, the lens hole may not be formed asdesired.

On the other hand, the hole formed in the array substrate 110 with thedrill may be too deep. Specifically, the hole may reach the black matrix130 formed on the color filter substrate 120. As a result, glass piecesor debris may be generated when the lens hole 150 is formed, and defectsdue to such foreign matter may occur. In addition, the black matrix 130may be damaged. As a result, light may leak from the damaged blackmatrix 130.

The inner diameter L3 of the measurement pattern 175 may be larger thanthe diameter L1 of the lens hole 150. With the above-describedconfiguration, the measurement pattern 175 does not come in contact withthe drill even if the lens hole 150 is formed by the drill because theinner diameter L3 of the measurement pattern 175 is larger than thediameter of the drill. Accordingly, the measurement pattern 175 is notdamaged by the drill.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the outer diameter of themeasurement pattern 175 may be equal to or smaller than the diameter L1of the lens hole 150. With the above-described configuration, themeasurement pattern 175 can be effectively removed during the process offorming the lens hole 150 with the drill because the outer diameter ofthe measurement pattern 175 is smaller than the diameter of the drill.Specifically, the thickness of the array substrate 110 is moreaccurately measured with the confocal sensor with respect to themeasurement pattern 175, and then the lens hole 150 is formed in thearray substrate 100 with the drill based on the accurately measuredthickness. That is, the measurement pattern may be removed once thethickness of the array substrate 110 has been measured. Accordingly, themeasurement pattern may be removed during the process of forming thelens hole 150. Alternatively, only a part of the measurement pattern maybe removed while the rest may remain around the lens hole 150.

The lens hole guide 155 in line with the lens hole 150 is formed in thecolor filter substrate 120 in the peripheral area PA. The lens holeguide 155 is in line with the lens hole 150. The lens hole guide 155 maysupport the array substrate 110 around the lens hole 150. For example,if the lens part 140 a of the camera module 140 is a cylindrical shape,the lens hole 150 may be a circular shape, and the inner side of thelens hole guide 155 may also be the circular shape. The center of thelens hole 150 may be adjacent to or in line (i.e. aligned) with thecenter of the lens hole guide 155. The lens hole guide 155 is made of anorganic material or an inorganic material.

Specifically, the array substrate 110 is ground by a drill during theprocess of forming the lens hole 150 with the drill. The array substrate110 may be made of glass. There may be space between the array substrate110 and the color filter substrate 120. As the array substrate 120receives pressure from the drill process, undesired physical impact maybe exerted onto the array substrate 120. As a result, the arraysubstrate 120 may be undesirably bent and cracks or other deformitiesmay occur. In addition, while the array substrate 110 is ground by thedrill, small glass pieces or debris may scatter around the lens hole150.

The lens hole guide 155 surrounds the lens hole 150 to minimize orsuppress the array substrate 120 from being bent when physical impact isexerted on the array substrate 120, thereby reducing cracks in the arraysubstrate 120. That is, the lens hole guide 155 can effectively absorbat least some of the impact, pressure or force exerted on the arraysubstrate 110 during the process of forming the lens hole 150.

In addition, as the lens hole guide 155 surrounds the lens hole 150, itcan block the glass pieces from scattering. Accordingly, the glasspieces or debris are restricted within the lens hole 150, such that itis more convenient to remove such debris or pieces in the lens hole 150by using a tool, such as a suction means, for removing them.

With reference to FIG. 4, the inner diameter L4 of the lens hole guide155 may be larger than the diameter L1 of the lens hole 150. With theabove-described configuration, the lens hole guide 155 may beeffectively prevented from coming into contact with the drill during theprocess of forming the lens hole 150 with the drill. Accordingly, damageto the lens hole guide 155 may be minimized.

Although the inner side of the lens hole guide 155 conforms to the lenshole 150, the outer side of the lens hole guide 155 may or may notconform to it and thus can have different shapes. For example, theperiphery of the lens hole guide 155 may be a circular shape, arectangular shape, a polygonal shape, a streamlined shape, etc.

The lens hole guide 155 and the measurement pattern 175 may overlap oneanother. With the above-described configuration, the measurement pattern175 may cover the lens hole guide 155. Accordingly, it is possible toreduce the measurement error by the lens hole guide 155 during theprocess measuring the thickness of the array substrate 110 (having themeasurement pattern 175) with the confocal sensor.

Specifically, the lens hole guide 155 may have a refractive indexdifferent from that of the array substrate 110 and may be opticallytransparent. This may result in measurement errors. It is to be notedthat in the LCD device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the lens hole guide 155 and the measurement pattern175 may not overlap but may be spaced apart from each other.

The black matrix 130 covers at least a part of the color filtersubstrate 120 in the peripheral area PA. The black matrix 130 isdisposed between the color filter substrate 120 and the lens hole guide155. For example, the black matrix 130 may cover at least some portionof the measurement pattern 175. With the above-described configuration,the measurement pattern 175 may be covered by the black matrix 130. Inaddition, the black matrix 130 may cover the peripheral area PA. Withthe above-described configuration, light from the light source via theperipheral area PA can be effectively shielded, and that the measurementpattern 175 disposed around the lens hole 150 is hidden by the blackmatrix 130 such that external light is not undesirably reflected off themeasurement pattern 175.

In the black matrix 130 on the color filter substrate 120 in theperiphery area PA, the aperture 160 in line or aligned with the cameramodule 140 is formed.

The aperture 160 may be formed by patterning the black matrix 130. Thediameter L5 of the aperture 160 may be determined based on the viewangle θ of the camera module 140. For example, there may be a particulardistance between the lens part 140 a and the aperture 160. The distanceis also associated with the thickness of the overcoat layer 135. Thatis, the aperture 160 may be configured so that it does not hide orobstruct the viewing angle θ of the camera module 140. If the aperture160 hides or obstructs the viewing angle θ of the camera module 140, thecamera module 140 cannot properly perform image capturing due to thecovered part. However, it is to be noted that the aperture 160 may alsobe configured so that it hides a part of the viewing angle θ of thecamera module 140.

The diameter L5 of the aperture 160 may be smaller than the diameter L1of the lens hole 150. The center of the aperture 160 may be adjacent toor aligned with the center of the lens hole 150. With theabove-described configuration, the aperture 160 may hide the rest of thecamera module 140 without hiding the viewing angle θ. Accordingly, theunnecessary part of the camera module 140 is hidden by the aperture 160,such that the aesthetic design can be improved. It is to be noted thatthe LCD device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure is not limited by that.

The overcoat layer 135 on the color filter substrate 120 in theperipheral area PA covers the black matrix 130 and the aperture 160. Theovercoat layer 135 may reduce the step difference (or layer unevenness)between the black matrix 130 and the aperture 160 or may provide a flatsurface. Further, the overcoat layer 135 may transmit light of thevisible wavelength band.

The overcoat layer 135 may reduce the step difference between the blackmatrix 130 and the aperture 160 to have a gentle (or gradual) slope.However, light may be refracted by the gentle slope, and thus theviewing angle θ of the camera module 140 may not overlap the slopedsurface.

Alternatively, the viewing angle θ of the camera module 140 may overlapthe sloped surface, and a compensation value for compensating suchdistortion may be stored in a memory. It is to be noted that the LCDdevice 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure is not limited by the sloped surface of the overcoat layer135, and that the distortion of the sloped surface can be ignored if itis trivial. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the overcoatlayer 135 may have a relatively flat surface.

The second polarization plate 125 covers the aperture 160 on the colorfilter substrate 120. The transparent portion 165 of the secondpolarization plate 125 may be in line or aligned with the aperture 160on the color filter substrate 120.

The transparent portion 165 may be formed by bleaching or processing aportion of the second polarization plate 125. Accordingly, thetransparent portion 165 has no polarization property. That is, thetransparent portion 165 passes or transmits visible wavelengthirrespectively of the polarization axis of the polarized light source.Accordingly, the transmittance of visible light is higher at thetransparent portion 165 than at the rest portion of the secondpolarization plate 125. It is to be noted that the LCD device 100according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is notlimited by that.

The diameter L6 of the transparent portion 165 may be determined basedon the viewing angle θ of the camera module 140. The diameter L6 of thetransparent portion 165 may be larger than the diameter L5 of theaperture 160.

With the above-described configuration, the camera module 140 caneffectively capture images through the transparent portion 165 of thesecond polarization plate 125.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second polarizationplate 125 may not cover the aperture 160.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the transparent portion165 may be formed by patterning the second polarization plate 125. Thatis, the transparent portion may be formed by physically removing a partof the second polarization plate, instead of performing bleaching or thelike.

The LCD device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the lens hole 150 is formed in the array substrate 110 andthat the camera module 140 is inserted into the lens hole 150, therebyreducing the overall thickness of the display device. In addition, byforming the measurement pattern 175, defects possibly occurring duringthe process of forming the lens hole 150 in the array substrate 110 canbe effectively suppressed. In addition, by forming the lens hole guide155, there is an effect that defects possibly occurring during theprocess of forming the lens hole 150 in the array substrate 100 can besuppressed. In addition, by forming the aperture 160 in the black matrix130, the aesthetic design can be improved without affecting the viewingangle θ of the camera module 140. In addition, by forming thetransparent portion 165 in the second polarization plate 125, theaesthetic design can be improved without affecting the viewing angle θof the camera module 140.

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate a method for forming a lens hole 550 of an LCDdevice 500 according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The LCD device 500 is different from the LCD device 100 in that ameasurement pattern has a different configuration.

With reference to FIG. 5A, the thickness T1 of the array substrate 110is measured with a confocal sensor 555 by using a measurement pattern575 disposed on the array substrate 110 (step S510).

The thickness T1 of the array substrate 110 may be measured with theconfocal sensor 555. To measure the thickness, the confocal sensor 550focuses on the measurement pattern 575 disposed at a position where thelens hole 550 is to be formed. In this manner, the thickness T1 of thearray substrate 110 can be measured more accurately than without suchmeasurement pattern 575. For example, the measured thickness T1 of thearray substrate 110 may be 250 μm.

With reference to FIG. 5B, based on the thickness T1 of the arraysubstrate 110 measured with the confocal sensor 555, a groove 550 a isformed at the position where the lens hole 550 is to be formed with adrill 560 to a particular depth (step S520).

To form the lens hole 550, the groove 550 a is formed with a thicknessthat is thinner than the thickness T1 by the drill 560. If the thicknessT1 of the array substrate 110 is equal to 250 μm, the depth of thegroove 550 a drilled by the drill 560 may be less than 250 μm.Specifically, the groove 550 a may be formed to have a depth of about95% to 99% of the thickness T1 of the array substrate 110. For example,the depth of the groove 550 a may be 244 μm, and the thickness T2 of theremaining part of the array substrate may be 6 μm. With reference toFIG. 5C, adhesion force is applied on the area where the groove 550 a isformed with a taping equipment 570 (or other element having adhesivecharacteristics) to attach the area to a glass core 580, and then theglass core 580 is separated from the array substrate 110 with the tapingequipment 570 to form the lens hole 550 (S530). That is, a tape 585 ispressed by the adhesive taping equipment 570 against the top surface ofthe groove 550 a formed with the drill 560, i.e., the glass core 580 sothat the tape 585 is attached to the glass core 580. Subsequently, whenthe taping equipment 570 pulls down the tape 585 attached to the glasscore 580 where the groove 550 a is formed, the glass core 580 can beremoved from the array substrate since the thickness T2 is very thin. Asa result, the lens hole 550 can be formed. Subsequently, the cameramodule 140 is inserted into the array substrate 110 via the lens hole550.

According to the above-described method of forming the lens hole 550, itis not necessary to penetrate the array substrate 110 with a drill.Accordingly, it is possible to greatly suppress the possibility thatglass pieces created by the drill 560 are introduced between the arraysubstrate 110 and the color filter substrate 120.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can also bedescribed as follows:

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a liquid-crystaldisplay (LCD) device includes: an array substrate on which a sub-pixelis disposed; a color filter substrate on which a color filtercorresponding to the sub-pixel is disposed; and a liquid-crystal layerbetween the array substrate and the color filter substrate. The arraysubstrate comprises a lens hole, the color filter substrate comprises alens hole guide, and a diameter of the lens hole is smaller than aninner diameter of the lens hole guide.

The center of the lens hole and a center of the lens hole guide may beconfigured to be adjacent to each other. An inner edge of the lens holeguide may be spaced apart from an edge of the lens hole.

The lens hole guide may be configured to surround the lens hole. Thelens hole guide may absorb at least some of impact exerted on the arraysubstrate during a process of forming the lens hole.

The color filter substrate may further include a black matrix. The blackmatrix may be disposed between the color filter substrate and the lenshole guide and may include an aperture smaller than a diameter of thelens hole, and the center of the aperture and the center of the lenshole guide may be configured to be adjacent to each other.

The color filter substrate may further include an overcoat layer. Theovercoat layer may transmit a visible wavelength band, cover the blackmatrix and the aperture, and reduce step difference between the blackmatrix and the aperture.

The LCD device may further include: a camera module in an area of thearray substrate other than the area where the sub-pixels are disposed,and the camera module may include a sensor part and a lens part, thelens part may be inserted into the lens hole and the lens hole guide,and the camera module may capture images via the aperture.

The LCD device may further include: a first polarization plate disposedunder the array substrate; and a second polarization plate disposed onthe color filter substrate. The second polarization plate may cover theaperture and comprises a transparent portion in line with the aperture.

The transmittance of visible light may be higher at the transparentportion than at the remaining portion of the second polarization plate.

The array substrate may further include a measurement pattern concentricwith the lens hole.

The measurement pattern may be made of a material of a gate line and/ora material of a data line of the array substrate.

The measurement pattern may have a shape corresponding to the lens hole.

The inner diameter of the measurement pattern may be larger than thediameter of the lens hole.

The measurement pattern may be removed during a process of forming thelens hole.

The measurement pattern may be hidden by the black matrix.

The measurement pattern may have a circular ring shape or a donut shape.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda method of fabricating a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device. Themethod includes: measuring a thickness of an array substrate with aconfocal sensor by using a measurement pattern on the array substrate;forming a groove in a position where a lens hole is to be formed to adepth determined based on the thickness of the array substrate measuredwith the confocal sensor; attaching a glass core to a region where thegroove is formed by applying adhesion with a taping equipment, and thenseparating the glass core from the array substrate with the tapingequipment to thereby form the lens hole; and inserting a camera moduleinto the array substrate through the lens hole.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the camera module integratedliquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof of thepresent disclosure without departing from the scope of the invention.Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modificationsand variations of this invention provided they come within the scope ofthe appended claims and/or their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid-crystal display (LCD) device,comprising: an array substrate on which a sub-pixel is disposed; a colorfilter substrate on which a color filter corresponding to the sub-pixelis disposed; and a liquid-crystal layer between the array substrate andthe color filter substrate, wherein the array substrate comprises a lenshole, the color filter substrate comprises a lens hole guide, and adiameter of the lens hole is smaller than a diameter of the lens holeguide, wherein the color filter substrate further comprises a blackmatrix, and wherein the black matrix is disposed between the colorfilter substrate and the lens hole guide and comprises an aperturesmaller than a diameter of the lens hole, and a center of the apertureand a center of the lens hole are configured to be adjacent to oraligned with each other.
 2. The LCD device of claim 1, wherein a centerof the lens hole and a center of the lens hole guide are configured tobe adjacent to or aligned with each other, and wherein an inner edge ofthe lens hole guide is spaced apart from an edge of the lens hole. 3.The LCD device of claim 1, wherein the lens hole guide is configured tosurround the lens hole and to absorb at least some pressure exerted onthe array substrate during a process of forming the lens hole.
 4. TheLCD device of claim 1, wherein the color filter substrate furthercomprises an overcoat layer disposed above the lens hole guide, andwherein the overcoat layer is configured to pass light of visiblewavelength bands, to cover the black matrix and the aperture, and toreduce step difference or surface unevenness between the black matrixand the aperture.
 5. The LCD device of claim 1, further comprising: acamera module in an area of the array substrate other than the areawhere the sub-pixels are disposed, wherein the camera module comprises asensor part and a lens part, the lens part is accommodated by the lenshole and the lens hole guide, and the camera module is configured tocapture images via the aperture.
 6. The LCD device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first polarization plate under the array substrate; and asecond polarization plate on the color filter substrate, wherein thesecond polarization plate covers the aperture and comprises atransparent portion in line with the aperture.
 7. The LCD device ofclaim 6, wherein a transmittance of visible light is higher at thetransparent portion than at the remaining portion of the secondpolarization plate.
 8. The LCD device of claim 1, wherein the arraysubstrate further comprises a measurement pattern configured to beconcentric with the lens hole.
 9. The LCD device of claim 8, wherein themeasurement pattern is made of a material of a gate line and/or amaterial of a data line of the array substrate.
 10. The LCD device ofclaim 8, wherein the measurement pattern has a shape corresponding tothe lens hole.
 11. The LCD device of claim 9, wherein an inner diameterof the measurement pattern is larger in diameter than the lens hole. 12.The LCD device of claim 9, wherein the measurement pattern is removedduring a process of forming the lens hole.
 13. The LCD device of claim9, wherein the measurement pattern is hidden by the black matrix. 14.The LCD device of claim 9, wherein the measurement pattern has acircular ring shape or a donut shape.
 15. A method of fabricating aliquid-crystal display (LCD) device, the method comprising: measuring athickness of an array substrate with a confocal sensor by using ameasurement pattern on the array substrate; forming a groove in aposition where a lens hole is to be formed to a depth determined basedon the thickness of the array substrate measured with the confocalsensor; attaching a glass core to a region where the groove is formed byapplying adhesion with a taping equipment, and then separating the glasscore from the array substrate with the taping equipment to thereby formthe lens hole; and inserting a camera module into the array substratethrough the lens hole.